Gibo: No role for Danding in my government

SAN FERNANDO CITY , Philippines   - There is no room for former ambassador Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco in an administration led by his nephew Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro Jr.

“Wala siguro (probably not),” Teodoro said during a campus tour on Thursday at the University of Perpetual Help System (UPHS) in Las Piñas, when asked what role his uncle might play in his administration.

Teodoro was a member of Cojuangco’s Nationalist People’s Coalition before he became the administration standard-bearer.

His decision to leave the NPC reportedly angered his uncle.

Cojuangco’s wife Gretchen earlier publicly declared her strong opposition to Teodoro’s presidential bid. “Anybody but Gibo,” Gretchen said on television.

Teodoro dismissed the issue as a family affair.

Teodoro explained that his uncle has his own political party with a different party platform.

“Our Lakas-Kampi-CMD party platform is different from the NPC,” Teodoro said.

Teodoro has been touring campuses across the country since the official start of the national campaign period on Feb. 9.

Joining protests

Teodoro also said he will not hesitate to join street protests if there is a failure of elections.

“I will join them. It is part of our rights and freedom to free expression,” he said when asked for his response if elections fail and protest actions erupt.

He also said the military or the police should not interfere in protest actions unless national security is threatened.

Teodoro said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) should not keep the public in the dark regarding the first automated elections in the country.

“As an outsider looking in, naturally I have my doubts. It is incumbent upon the Comelec to really disclose an honest-to-goodness appraisal of what they cannot do and what we should expect from them.” Teodoro said.

He said the Comelec should “always engage in an informational manner with the general public as to what is the true state of affairs.”